Honda Worldwide | Environment

Green Logistics

Honda has improved transportation efficiency through energy-conserving operations and a modal shift from trucking to more energy-efficient rail and marine shipping. To reduce packaging waste, we are proactively introducing packaging methods that require less material. We are also promoting the increased use of returnable materials.

Improve transportation efficiency

•Trend in CO₂ Emissions Associated with Transportation

Note: Calculations based on a Honda formula. (We plan to switch to calculations based on the amendment to Japan's Rationalization in Energy Use Law.)

In FY2007 CO₂ emissions associated with the transportation of automobiles, motorcycles, power products and parts in Japan totaled 146,236 CO₂ tons.

Automobile Transportation Initiatives

•Transportation efficiency improvements overcoming increases in transportation volume, resulting in CO₂ emissions reduction (FY2007)

Measure	Start	CO₂ reduction (CO₂ tons)
Energy-conserving operations, introduction of digital tachometers	FY2005	1,309
Suzuka, Tsuruga and Niigata plants (Modal shift from trucking to marine shipping)	FY2006	402
	Total Reduction	1,711

•Transportation Operations Covered by CO₂ Emissions Calculations (transportation of completed automobiles)

By encouraging Honda's transportation partners in Japan to promote energy conservation, and by improving average fuel efficiency through the introduction of digital tachometers, we improved fuel efficiency in the transportation of finished automobiles by 1.5% and reduced transportation-related CO₂ emissions by 1,309 CO₂ tons in FY2007 (baseline: FY2006). In future, we will expand transportation by ship and rail to further reduce CO₂ emissions associated with the transportation of automobiles.

Motorcycle Transportation Initiatives

Measure

Start

CO₂ Reduction

Kumamoto, Oita and Yokosuka plants

(Modal shift from trucking to marine transportation)

FY2007 (new)

114

•Transportation Operations Covered by CO₂ Emissions Calculations (transportation of completed motorcycles)

For the transportation of finished motorcycles, we also changed, wherever possible, from trucking to shipping. The only element of the modal shift that had not been completed in FY2006—the shift from trucking to shipping between Kumamoto and the Tokyo area—was completed in FY2007 through the use of ferries running from Oita and Yokosuka.

Parts Transportation Initiatives

Measure	Start	CO₂ Reduction
Reductions as a result of the shift to rail and ship, concentration of production centers	Modal shift began in FY2005, concentration of production centers in April-August 2005	154
Concentration of production centers, implementation of strategies to reduce fixed energy use at facilities	Concentration of production centers April-August 2005	312

•Transportation Operations Covered by CO₂ Emissions Calculations (transportation of parts)

We achieved positive results by replacing the trucking of parts to Hokkaido with marine shipments from Niigata to Otaru. We also consolidated shipments from Sayama and Suzuka factories to Niigata to increase efficiency. Future plans call for the concentration of parts production in Suzuka, but we will continue to evaluate the positive impact of this proposed change as we strive for increased efficiency.

Cleaner Transportation Exhaust Emissions

To comply with regulations governing diesel emissions enacted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and three neighboring prefectural governments, Honda's transportation partners continued introducing diesel particulate filters (DPF) and low-emissions vehicles. As a result, particulate matter emissions were reduced approximately 9.3 tons in FY2007 over the previous fiscal year.

Using less packaging

Repair Parts Initiatives

•Trends in Use of Packaging Materials for Repair Parts

•Less packaging in repair parts transportation

During FY2007 in Japan, we reduced the use of packaging materials in the transportation of parts by 1,346 tons over the previous fiscal year. This was made possible, in part, by expanding the use of returnable containers such as metal crates and polypropylene boxes (representing 44.6% of the eliminated packaging). We also expanded the use of returnable containers in warehouses, eliminating 9.4 tons of packaging. We will continue striving to reduce total shipment weights and introduce more reusable containers and simpler packaging to reduce the volume of packaging materials.

Using Less Packaging in the Transportation of Component Parts Sets^*

•External returnable container use rates

Area	Use rates
North America	69.7%
South America	14.0%
Europe	69.7%
Asia/Oceania	51.7%
China	1.9%
Average	49.6%

* Program started in FY2007

•Using less packaging materials

Conversion from disposable to returnable shipping materials

Measure	Reduction
Using less steel	8,554 tons
Using less cardboard	387 tons

•Replacing disposable materials with returnable containers to reduce the use of packaging materials

In FY2007 we accelerated the introduction of returnable containers for both internal and external packaging, planning and beginning the implementation of the program at all facilities to which component parts sets are shipped. Use of the containers began at facilities in China, Brazil and Pakistan. Detailed plans were formulated to start the program in India. Furthermore, through the introduction of returnable containers by suppliers delivering parts to Honda, we reduced the use of cardboard boxes and began work on implementing a repackaging program designed to reduce the disposal of used packaging (to begin in FY2008). We will continue with the conversion from disposable to returnable shipping materials.

* Component parts sets are delivered to overseas plants for local assembly.

Import of Completed Motorcycles

•Using Less Packaging in the Export and Import of Completed Motorcycles

Measure	Reduction
Using less steel	1,181 Tons
Using less cardboard	852 Tons

Using returnable cases when importing scooters from China, Honda is striving to maintain zero landfill disposal of shipping materials. By eliminating the use of cardboard and introducing returnable steel containers, we are continuing to use less packaging.

Power Product Transportation Initiatives

•Using Less Packaging in the Transportation of Power Products

Measure	Reduction
Using less steel	47 Tons
Using less cardboard	16 Tons

Through the use of returnable steel cases for transporting medium and large marine outboards in Japan, Honda is using less steel and cardboard materials.

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